Celebrating Rangers give Josh Hamilton a ginger ale shower - Big League Stew - Yahoo! Sports
We can't tell from our vantage point, but somewhere beneath that waterfall of ginger ale is Texas Rangers MVP candidate Josh Hamilton. The people holding the quickly emptying Canada Dry bottles are his teammates and they're making sure that all can celebrate the Rangers' 5-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 5 of the ALDS on Tuesday night.
I'm not trying to pick on the Rangers, as I don't think a lot of teams would have gone out of their way to include Hamilton in their celebration, but would they have done the same thing if Hamilton were just a fringe utility player or a guy like Jorge Cantu, and not your team MVP? I don't know, maybe they would, but I doubt it. And I'm not saying that's wrong. Hamilton has meant a lot to the Rangers and they might not have been a position to celebrate without him on the team, but the entire situation strikes me as strange. I'm completely for celebrating, and tradition, and history, but it's almost like, "Hey! Let's celebrate with Josh for a few minutes. Okay, that's done, now beat it, we want to PAR-TAY!" If you want to honor your teammate, have the entire celebration be non-alcoholic and save the drinking for later.
Hall of Fame corrects name of late inductee Pete Hill on plaque - SI.com
Four years after he was posthumously inducted into the Hall of Fame, former Negro Leagues star John Preston "Pete" Hill was honored Tuesday on what probably would have been his 126th birthday with a new plaque that corrects his proper name and place of birth.
This is the kind of story that tends to get overlooked by most media outlets. The way history is revered and honored in baseball, even for a player most have never heard of, is the reason its the greatest of all sports.
MORE LINKS AFTER THE BREAK...
If the playoffs don't interest you, here's the Simpsons episode from last Sunday that included an appearance by Mike Scioscia:
and then you can learn how Aroldis Chapman throws so hard...
Cuban Missile: Just how does Aroldis Chapman throw 105 mph? - USATODAY.com
Cincinnati Reds reliever Aroldis Chapman regularly hits triple digits when he pitches. Back on Sept. 24, the Cuban fireballer was clocked at 105 mph against the San Diego Padres. It was the fastest pitch ever clocked.
Game 163 on its way out in expanded playoffs? - Chicago Breaking Sports
Commissioner Bud Selig has confirmed baseball is studying possibilities to expand the postseason field. Eight teams currently go, but there is strong consideration being given to increasing that number to 10, beginning as soon as 2011. The new games would provide programming for the MLB Network and allow fringe teams to remain competitive deeper into September.
LAME.
Important Year Ahead for Pujols and Baseball - FanGraphs Baseball
On October 6th, the St. Louis Cardinals picked up Albert Pujols‘s $16 million dollar option. Perhaps it’s because of the playoffs that this move went relatively unnoticed and unheralded, perhaps it’s simply because this move is the most obvious move in the history of baseball operations. That’s not particularly noteworthy on its face, but what is important is that this signifies the last season of Pujols’s current contract, meaning that barring a midseason deal, Albert Pujols will be a free agent after next season.
The above article compares Pujols to Hank Aaron and Willie Mays. How much would Aaron or Mays sign for as free agents if they played today? Twenty million per year? Twenty-five million per year?
Bad Idea Tats: Braves Fan Gets A Bobby Cox Tattoo On His Thigh
"Some of my friends think I’m crazy," he said, "but a few others absolutely love it." I hate to break it to you, Andy, but the few others who absolutely love it? They are so not your friends. They’re secretly mocking you behind your back due to the fact that you have an elderly man’s face inked onto your upper thigh.
I don't have any tattoos. Not because I think there's anything wrong with them, but probably because I'm close to the generation that associate tattoos to sailors and convicts.
October 13 - BR Bullpen
Events, births and deaths that occurred on October 13.
1960 - Bill Mazeroski of the Pittsburgh Pirates hits one of the most dramatic home runs in World Series history. Maz's leadoff home run in the bottom of the ninth inning against Ralph Terry of the New York Yankees gives Pittsburgh a stunning 10 - 9 win in Game Seven.
1971 - The Baltimore Orioles and Pittsburgh Pirates play the first night game in World Series history.
2002 - The Anaheim Angels score 10 runs in the seventh inning on their way to a 13 - 5 victory over Minnesota to give Anaheim its first American League pennant in team history. Adam Kennedy is the hero for Anaheim with three home runs and seven RBI. Scott Spiezio also hits a home run for the Angels, with Francisco Rodriguez getting the win in relief.
Happy b-day:
1894 - Swede Risberg, infielder (d. 1975)
R.I.P.:
1975 - Swede Risberg, infielder (b. 1894)